The Hair Therapist

Kylie Dwyer’s story is one of artistry, leadership, and heart. Beginning her career in 1986, she quickly rose from stylist to salon owner, educator, and mentor, shaping the hairdressing community with her vision and dedication. Her work has taken her from local apprenticeships to international stages, representing Australia at the World Skills Olympics and Mondial Paris, while also showcasing her...

Mel sits down with Salli Cohen, founder of The Policy Room and a seasoned policy practitioner with over three decades of experience, for a powerful conversation about advocacy, resilience, and the role of good policy in shaping communities. Salli shares her personal journey, the tribulations she has faced, and the lessons learned from working across government, the not‑for‑profit sector, and commu...

Today’s episode brings us into the heart of what community care looks like when it’s done with courage, creativity, and an unwavering belief in people. And there’s no one who embodies that more fully than Mim O’Flynn.   For more than two decades, Mim has dedicated her nursing career to walking alongside people who are too often pushed to the margins, those experiencing homelessness, stigma, i...

In this powerful episode, Mel sits down with PJ Humphreys, Community Development Officer at Sunshine Coast Council and the driving force behind Street Up - a grassroots homelessness initiative built on one simple but transformative belief: nothing about us, without us . Street Up was established in 2023 to harness the strength, insight, and leadership of people with lived experience of homelessnes...

In this episode, Mel speaks with Martine Richards, founder Freedom Wigs Australia and a leading alopecia wig specialist. Martine’s journey began when she started losing her hair as a young child. Misdiagnosed at the time, she faced years of confusion and isolation before learning she had alopecia, a turning point that shaped her resilience and her mission to help others.   Today, Martine chan...

In this episode, Melissa welcomes Megan Evans, an award-winning hairdresser, salon owner, and founder of In Awe Education - to share her inspiring journey and vision for the future of the hairdressing industry. Megan has built a career defined by creativity, leadership, and a passion for education. From winning SA/TAS Hairdresser of the Year in 2019 to being recognised internationally for her coll...

In this episode, Mel speaks with Josh Wilkins, the inspiring founder of One Voice, about the moment that changed his life - the first time he truly saw how homelessness does not discriminate. Josh shares how witnessing people from all walks of life without a roof over their heads revealed a truth that many overlook: no one is immune to the possibility of losing their home.   From that experie...

In this episode, Mel sits down with Yasmin Khan, founder of The Bangle Foundation, to discuss her groundbreaking work supporting South Asian women who have immigrated to Australia and are facing domestic abuse, coercive control, and the complex challenges of rebuilding their lives in a new country. Yasmin shares the story behind creating a safe, culturally responsive space where women can seek hel...

What does it mean to rewrite your story and then help others do the same? In this episode, Mel sits down with Tahlia Isaac, founder and CEO of Project:herSELF, a transformative initiative supporting women impacted by incarceration. Tahlia’s journey from navigating the criminal legal system to becoming a fierce advocate for justice is a testament to resilience, purpose, and the power of lived exper...

What does it take to rebuild a life after prison? For Vincent Siahaan, it began with a brutal awakening, a nine-year sentence for drug trafficking, and the crushing reality of being separated from his young family. But his story didn’t end there, it transformed.   In this deeply honest conversation, Vincent shares how his time behind bars reshaped his understanding of justice, identity, and c...

In this episode, I’m joined by Kath Essing - speaker, coach, and author of The Courage to Speak Your Truth, for a conversation about voice, vulnerability, and the transformative power of storytelling.   Kath’s journey toward truth-telling began with a pivotal decision to confront her past and speak out. That moment became the foundation for her book and the catalyst for a framework that now h...

In part one, Jacob laid bare a childhood shaped by addiction, abuse, and abandonment, where every system meant to protect him became another chapter in a long story of survival. Now, in part two, we go deeper.   Jacob returns to speak with Mel about what happens after the trauma is named but not yet healed. From the revolving doors of juvenile detention and incarceration to the daily grind of...

In this episode, Mel sits down with Miranda Woods, Coordinator of the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre - a welcoming, grassroots space where connection isn’t just encouraged, it’s lived. Nestled in Brisbane’s inner north, the Centre is more than a building; it’s a lifeline for many, offering warmth, dignity, and practical support to anyone who walks through its doors.   From food relief and hous...

From family addiction and family breakdown to foster care, juvenile detention, homelessness, and incarceration, then back on the street. Jacob has lived through nearly every system meant to protect vulnerable children. And yet, those systems often failed him.   In this raw and unflinching conversation, Jacob sits down with Mel to share a story that’s still unfolding. Born to a mother battling...

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Mel sits down with Dr Katrina Lines, CEO of Act for Kids, a psychologist, researcher, and advocate whose career has been devoted to protecting children and supporting families through trauma. With over two decades of experience in clinical and social services, Katrina brings both professional insight and heartfelt urgency to the growing crisis of chi...

In this gripping follow up to Episode 5, Mel reconnects with T to go deeper into the realities of heroin addiction. T shares how a $1000 a day habit led her into sex work, and the confronting experiences that came with it - moments of danger, disconnection, and survival in a world few truly understand.   With raw honesty, T speaks about the choices she made, the systems that failed her, and t...

In this episode, Mel sits down with Jak Vaessen, a man whose life has been shaped by a fierce commitment to justice, dignity, and compassion. From sleeping rough in solidarity with the homeless to challenging public indifference head-on, Jak’s advocacy is as relentless as it is heartfelt.   His work hasn’t gone unnoticed, Jak was honoured with the prestigious Vidal Sassoon Humanitarian Award,...

Today’s episode is a celebration of compassion in action.   Mel sits down with Sarah Taylor, a woman whose scissors and spirit are changing lives on the streets of her community. Through her work with organisations like the Community Hair Project, Sarah offers more than just free haircuts to those experiencing homelessness or hardship. She restores dignity, confidence, and connection, one hai...

In this gripping episode, Mel sits down with David Greenberg - author, speaker, and former rescue helicopter crewman, whose career has been defined by high-stakes missions and life-saving decisions. With over 4000 missions under his belt, David shares not just the adrenaline-fueled moments from his time in the air, but the deeper lessons in leadership, trauma, and human connection that emerged fro...

In this powerful episode, Mel sits down with Andrea Senior, a seasoned Youth and Family Director whose career has been defined by unwavering commitment to family preservation and community empowerment. With decades of experience spanning child protective services, strategic leadership, and non-profit advocacy, Andrea shares the pivotal moments that shaped her path and the values that continue to g...

In this episode, Mel sits down with Alyse Bradley, Board Director & Treasurer of QENDO and a passionate advocate for those living with endometriosis. Alyse brings both professional insight and deeply personal experience to the table, having battled the chronic, often misunderstood disease herself for years before receiving a diagnosis in 2014. Together, they unpack the realities of living with...

In today’s episode, Mel sits down with her longtime friend and mentor Layle - a woman whose life took an extraordinary turn after she made a bold decision: to sell their home and use the proceeds not for comfort, but for connection. What followed was a global journey of giving, acts of service that spanned continents, cultures, and communities.   From offering support in remote villages to up...

In this unflinching and emotionally charged conversation, we sit down with Jenni Tarrant - virtually, but with no less depth or connection. A multi-award-winning hairdresser, creative force behind Bond Hair Religion, and the heart behind The Tarrant Foundation, Jenni doesn’t just style hair, she reshapes lives. From sleeping in her car to raise awareness of hidden homelessness, to walking 100km in...

Mel sits down with Pam Barker, CEO of Brisbane Youth Service, whose journey from childhood homelessness to national advocacy is both raw and inspiring. With nearly 20 years supporting vulnerable youth, Pam offers deep insight into the challenges facing those in out-of-home care, experiencing homelessness, or identifying as LGBTIQA+ or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.   Drawing from live...

What do you do when someone you love hears the words “You have breast cancer” ? In this raw and heartfelt episode, we sit with the shock, the grief, and the fierce love that follows. Elizabeth opens up about the emotional rollercoaster, from diagnosis to survival and the deep impact it leaves on identity, relationships, and everyday life.   We talk about:   The gut-punch of hearing the d...